Future scientists go underwater to gain real-world job skills
Aramco contributes to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coral Reef Stewardship Fund. The Fund, with the support of the Junior Scientists in the Sea program, trains student divers who will help restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (photo credit: Junior Scientists in the Sea)
The Junior Scientists in the Sea (JSIS) program, a Florida-based organization, has received a two-year grant, funded in part by Aramco Americas financial support of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coral Reef Stewardship Fund. Students with JSIS will help restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by becoming trained scuba divers with the skills necessary to monitor and record the health of the coral.
“I’m so excited to have this opportunity. I didn’t sleep last night,” said 14-year-old Natalie Fernandez from Homestead, Florida. Natalie is one of 50 student divers who benefits from the JSIS program.
Throughout the project, student divers will play a crucial role in collecting essential data on coral survival, recruitment, out-planting, and growth restoration within the Florida Keys ecosystem. Students are making a valuable contribution to the vital task of reef conservation and learning valuable career and life skills.
A group of Miami-Dade "Aquatic Stewards" certified by the Junior Scientists in the Sea (JSIS) program. The students are helping restore the coral reef system in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, by out planting new coral fingerlings and monitoring coral that was previously planted. Aramco supports this program through contributions to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. (Photo credit: Maite Wilson)
More than scuba diving
Founded by accomplished career Navy diver and instructor Les Burke who is PADI® certified and trained more than 2,000 divers at all levels of diving, JSIS is teaching more than scuba diving.
“JSIS is designed to expose kids to a meaningful, educational program combined with on-the-job training, hard work, and opportunities to solve real-world problems right in their own backyards,” said Burke.
For Aramco Americas, the program supports STEM education with the company aiming to have an impact on the workforce of the future. Statistics from the National Science Foundation show that the STEM talent pipeline in the U.S. is not growing quickly enough to meet the demand for the skills needed in subjects like science, engineering, technology, and math.
Aramco’s support for programs like JSIS and others focus on education along with hands-on application which is a powerful combination. When students become divers, build robots, or advance new transportation technologies, they acquire not only technical skills, but the skills needed to successfully transition into the workforce.
Since 2020, Aramco Americas has supported the NFWF through grants supporting coral reef restoration and preservation. In 2024, Aramco Americas supported nine projects designed to restore and protect approximately 60 acres of coral reefs throughout the US over the next two years.
